He says: "I would like to continue working to expand the connections between U.S. citizens and citizens of the rest of the world, because I believe that the way toward prosperity around the world is by showing people that we're all human."
Rayshawn Whitford
- Sustaining international development
- Age: 22
- School: Babson College
- Hometown: Pawcatuck, Conn.
- Gender: Male
- Category: Enterprise and Corporate Innovation
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Social Media:
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Rwanda wasn't on Rayshawn's radar when he started college. But four years later, Rwanda is exactly where he can be found -- as one of two country directors of the Babson Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center, which aims to enhance the entrepreneurial landscape there and, in a broader initiative, East Africa. He and a colleague serve on judging panels for business-plan and ideas competitions and speak at events intended to inspire young entrepreneurs. They also develop curricula and programs for teacher-training seminars, offer consulting services, vet business plans and fund small businesses started by secondary school students.
Rayshawn has also traveled to Ghana, where he helped develop solutions that increased beekeepers' incomes and lowered malaria rates. This is not his first foray into business -- as an undergrad, he was CEO of OneSwipe, a student-run business. Next, he wants to get MBA and MPP degrees to better understand "the ways in which business can be used as a tool to meet social goals of our society."
